Should Schools Ban Cookies?

by Michele Cheplic | More from this Blogger

08 Oct 2009 01:06 PM

Gone are the days of celebrating your kid's birthday in school with cupcakes and cookies.

At least at my daughter's school.

Last month, administrators at my kid's private school put the kibosh on birthday baked goods and candy. Now, the only treats your birthday boy can share in class on his big day are "fun print" napkins, pencils, Go-gurt, crackers or string cheese.

Can you say party pooper?

I did, until I learned that the New York City Department of Education has also banned baked goods in school. According to the New York Times, class bake sales are now banned during school hours.

The reason: Kids are too fat and the city doesn't want to enable their reckless eating habits.

A rep from the mayor's office told the Times: "Mayor Bloomberg has made both public health and public education centerpieces of his tenure, and the changes in the schools' food are an outgrowth of his efforts to curb trans fats, salt and other unwanted food additives."

So, then why not institute the same policy as my daughter's school?

If you are going to ban cookie sales during school hours, why continue to allow students to bring in cupcakes, cookies and brownies to share with their classmates on their birthdays?

What's more, if Mayor Bloomberg is so concerned about students' health, then why does he allow the Department of Education to continually greenlight monthly PTA bake sales in schools citywide?

And what of all the vending machines sitting in New York City public schools? According to reports, Mayor Bloomberg is mandating that schools replace candy bars and greasy potato chip options with "healthier" pretzels and Baked Doritos. Fresh apples, dried fruit, trail mix and granola would probably be "healthier," but I suppose you would have a hard time finding many teens willing to shell out money for a bag of GORP.

What's the snack situation like at your child's school? Is he allowed to bring in baked goods on his birthday?

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Learn more about Michele Cheplic

Michele Cheplic was born and raised in Hilo, Hawaii, but now lives in Wisconsin. Michele graduated from the University of Wisconsin-Madison with a degree in Journalism.

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Andrea Hermitt (5507) 08 Oct 2009 09:40 PM

My daughter had fried pies this evening at her homeschool Drama club to celebrate someone's birthday... that would never be allowed in public school.

Btw, have you ever heard a drama club/chorus group sing happy birthday? It was beautiful.

Michele Cheplic (37339) 09 Oct 2009 05:17 AM

Fried pies--YUM--you know they are not allowed at McDonald's anymore. Remember when McDonald's fried their apple pies? Then they went healthy and started baking them. Only a handful of states still carry the fried version. They do in Hawaii, so whenever I go home I eat like a dozen fried pies (2 for $1--can't go wrong!). I love McDonald's deep fried apple pies. I still can't believe they took them off the menu at most locations. If I want to pay you to clog my arteries with deep fried pie, then let me! Heck, I would join the drama club just to get near the kid who brings in fried pies. Were they apple?